Steam-muffler



(No Model.)

B. A. LELAND. STEAM MUFFLER. No. 428,307. Patented May 20, 1890.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDYVIN A. LELAND, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE CONSOLIDATED CAR HEATING COMPANY, OF- ALBANY, NEW YORK.

STEAM-MUFFLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,307, dated May 20, 1890.

Application filed November 27, 1889. Serial No. 331,830. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN A. LELAND, av citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Mufflers, of which the following is a specification,

My invention relates to that class of devices commonly known as steam-mufflers, To and the purpose thereof is to provide a simple and inexpensive device adapted for use in connection with the heaters employed in railway-cars and other places wherein the heat is communicated to different points by hot-water-circulation pipes, and especially for that class of heaters wherein the circulation is maintained by steam from the locomotive.

It is the purpose of my invent-ion to provide a simple means whereby the rumbling and crackling noise caused by injecting steam into a confined body of water shall be entirely overcome or practically so, while at the same time no obstruction shall be offered to the free circulation of the water. To effect 2 5 this result, I propose to combine with the system of circulation-pipes a muffler in which the water and steam enter in opposite or different directions, the steam being compelled to traverse dividing or dispersing and commingling devices, by which its volume is divided into a great number of small jets, globules, or particles, which mingle with the Water without noise or commotion. The water, on

the other hand, entering at a different point,

passes around and outside of the dividing or dispersing devices and traverses the muffler with case.

It is my purpose, finally, to provide a construction of parts whereby backpressure shall be materially diminished, and whereby,

also, the interior parts of the muffler may be withdrawn bodily by simply disconnecting the steam-pipe and removing the cap.

The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and new combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and then definitely pointed out in the claims following this specification.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my said invention, I will describe the same in detail, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of steam-.muifier and commingler embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same, taken in the plane as 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of one of the annular dispersing and commingling plates.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 denotes a cylindrical metallic shell or drum of suitablediameter and length, having its greater axis vertical. The drum is provided with an upper and lower screw-cap 2 and 3, and through the latter the inlet-pipe 4L enters, while from the former cap a coupling 5 rises, to which the circulation or outlet pipe 6 is connected. The steam-pipe 7 enters, preferably, through the lateral wall of the coupling 5 and receives a vertical pipe 8, arranged axially in the drum and dropping to a point a little above the inlet-opening. Its lower end is closed by a cap 9, and the pipe is provided with numerous small perforations 10, extending to a point somewhat below the top" of the shell or drum.

Closely surrounding the perforated portion of the pipe 8 is a foraminous cylinder 12, which may consist of sheet metal having a great number of closelyarranged minute openings therein. Surrounding this forami- 8o nous cylinder are aseries of concavo-convex annular plates or washers 13, piled one upon another and, surrounding the entire perforated portion of the pipe 8, the entire series being sustained by a washer 14, resting upon the cap 9. The concave faces of the annular plates are turned upward and are provided with numerous radial ribs 15, rising very slightly from the concave faces of the said plates, whereby the lower plain convex surfaces are raised or separated very slightly from the concave or ribbed faces, leaving great numbers of narrow radial passages 16 between said plates and ribs.

Concentric with the perforated pipe 8 and annular plates 13 is an outer series of annular plates 17 of similar construction. Their diameter externally and internally is such that a narrow annular space 18 is formed between the series 17 and the series 13, while T00 an outer annular space 19 is provided between the drum and the series of plates 17. These plates are mounted upon the rods 20 and rest upon sleeves 2l, slipped upon the lower headed ends of said rods, which rest upon the lower caps 3, thereby providing an unobstructed passage for the incoming water, which passes beneath the outer series of annular plates and between the same and the wall of the drum. Nuts 22 are screwed upon the ends of the tie-rods and a concavo-convex annulus 23, of suitable weight, is slipped upon the pipe 8 and rests upon both series of annular plates. The outer series 17 are provided with ribs 2%, similar in all respects to those upon the inner series 13. I may provide the annuli in either or both series with perforations 25, of anysuitable number and size, arranged between the ribs and so placed as to either break joints or to lie in the same line or lines. I do not, however, confine myself eX- clusively to either form, as I may use the annuli either with or without such perforations. The plate 23 cuts off the upward passage of steam and compels it to pass between the an:

nuli of the two series. The water, entering by way of the pipe 4, passes upward, filling the annular space 18, and, flowing beneath the outer series of annuli and through the annular space 19, passes out by the coupling 5 and pipe 6. The steam is injected through the pipe 7, and, passing downward in the pipe 8, is driven out through the perforations therein and then through the foraminous cylinder 12, by which it is divided up into an indefinite number of small jets or particles; thence itflows through the narrow radial channels 16, which are extremely shallow, and mingles with the water lying in the annular space 18. Hence it passes between the annuli of the outer series in a similar manner, and is commingled evenly and in substantially uniform volumes with the water traversing the.

My present invention is an improvement upon the apparatus shown in Letters Patent granted to me the 30th day of April, 1889, No. 402,336, and upon that entire class of steam mufflers in which the water is compelled to traverse the dispersing and commingling channels pursued by the steam, whereby the circulation is materially retarded and the back-pressure increased.

It will be seen that by simply uncoupling the steanrpipe and removing the cap 2 the whole interior apparatus of the muffler may easily be lifted out of the drum.

To prevent cinders, dirt, and other foreign matter from being carried into the muffler with the steam, I combine therewith an arrester consisting of a casing 26, coupled with the steam-pipe 7, and containing aperforated orforaminous cylinder 27. This cylinder has its open end lying in that end of the casing which is adjacent to the steam-pipe 7, and the diameter of said cylinder is such that an ample annular space is provided between it and the wall of the casing. The end of the cylinder against which thein ward current of steam rushes is closed, and is preferably rounded or conical in form. In the lower portion of the casing 26 is formed achamber 28, which is provided with a screw-cap 29, by removing which the accumulation of dirt and other matter may be withdrawn from the interior.

The operation of this devicewill be readily understood. The steam, entering the direction of the arrow, passes without difficulty through the openings or fine perforations of the cylinder 27; but the cinders and other solid matter blown in with the steam are arrested thereby,'and drop to the bottom of the casing 26, from which they are removed by unscrewing the cap 29.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a steam-muffler, the combination, with a drum having a lower inlet and an upper outlet pipe, of a steam-pipe entering the upper part of said drum and dropping nearly to its bottom, and one or more series of dispersing and coinmingling devices arranged around a perforated portion of said pipe and raised from the bottom of the drum to provide an unobstructed entrance and passage for the water beneath and outside of the dispersing devices, substantially as described,

2. In a steam-mufiier, the combination, with a drum having a lower inlet and an upper outlet for the water, of a steam-pipe entering the upper portion of the drum and dropping centrally therein nearly to its lower cap,the end of said pipe being closed,a double series of annular dispersing and commingling plates arranged concentrically about a perforated portion of the pipe, leaving an annular space between the series and between the outer series and the drum, the outer series being raised to provide a passage between it and the lower cap of the drum, and means for compelling the steam passing through the perforated pipe to traverse the spaces between the annular plates, substantially as described.

3. In a steanrmufiler, the combination, with a drum having an inlet below and outlet above, of a steam-pipe entering the upper part and dropping centrally nearly to the lower end of the drum, a series of concaveconvex annuli surrounding a perforated portion of said pipe and sustained by a cap closing its lower end, an outer concentric series of similar annuli raised above the lower end of the drum, and means for cutting off the upward passage of steam and compelling it to pass between the said annuli, the latter being provided with radial ribs, substantially as described.

4:. In a steam-muffler, the combination, with a drum having an inlet below and an outlet above, of a steam-pipe entering the upper part and having its closed end dropped nearly to the bottom of the drum, a foraminous cyl inder surrounding a perforated portion of the pipe, a series of annuli supported by the pipe and closely surrounding the cylinder, an outer ICC IIO

annular annuli arranged on tie-rods and susseries of similar ann uli supported by the tierods above the lower end of the drum, and having an annular passage between said annuli and the drum, and a plate closely surrounding the pipe above its perforations and resting on the top of both series of annuli, the latter being provided with radial ribs 011 one face, substantially as described.

5. In a steam-mufller, the Combination, with a drum through which the Water flows upward, of a steam -pipe dropping centrally therein nearly to the bottom and having its lower end closed, a foraminous cylinder close- 1y surrounding a perforated portion of the pipe, a series of concavo-convex annuli surrounding the cylinder and separated by radial ribs formed thereon, an outer series of tained above the lower end of the drum, and a plate resting on both series of annuli and closely surrounding the steam-pipe, said an nuli in either or both series being provided with perforations between the ribs, substantially as described.

6. In a steam-muffler, the combinatiomwith the drum through which the Water flows in one direction, of a steam-pipe admitting steam in a different directi0n,and an arrester interposed in the steam-pipe and consisting of a casin g having an interior perforated or foraminous cylinder, its open end being placed in the entrance to the muffler, substantially as described. 7. The combination, With a steam-muffler, of an arrester having a casing interposed in the steam-pipe, said casing being provided with an interior perforated or foraminous cylinder having its closed conical or rounded end arranged to meet the inrushing steam and its open end fitted Within the entrance to the muflier, a chamber being formed in the 'lower part of said casing and provided With a removable cap, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed mysignature in presence oftwo witnesses.

EDWVIN ,A. LELAND. 

